Fasting and Self-Denial for Spiritual Growth and Sensitivity
Fasting, as a spiritual discipline, involves abstaining from food or other physical comforts for a period to focus on God and spiritual matters [5]. This practice is often linked with self-denial and humility, aiming to cultivate spiritual growth and sensitivity.
Biblical texts illustrate various aspects of fasting. In the Old Testament, fasting was a means of humbling the soul [3] and expressing repentance [6]. For instance, the Psalmist describes the physical effects of fasting, noting, "My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat" [1]. Isaiah 58 highlights that true fasting should lead to an awareness of injustice and prompt action to help the needy, rather than being a mere ritual for self-pleasure [4, 5]. The prophet emphasizes that fasting, like the Sabbath, is intended as an expression of self-denial and worship, delighting in the Lord and trusting in His provision [7].
In the New Testament, Jesus instructs his followers to fast discreetly, not to be seen by others, but for God who sees in secret [2]. This emphasizes the internal spiritual focus over external display. The absence of fasting among Jesus and his disciples was seen by some as a subtle proclamation that the Messiah had already arrived [6].
Theological traditions have interpreted fasting in various ways. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, questioned the efficacy of fasting if it was not accompanied by prayer and a desire to turn away God's displeasure, as seen in the account of Esther [8]. He suggests that fasting alone, without spiritual intent, holds no inherent power [8].
commentators Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown note that Daniel's mourning involved fasting from "pleasant bread, flesh and wine" as a sign of sorrow, not for its own sake [10]. They clarify that fasting is not an indispensable Christian obligation but an outward expression of sorrow and separation from worldly enjoyments to dedicate oneself to prayer [10]. They also distinguish between voluntary fastings undertaken to kindle devotion, as seen in Acts 13:2-3 and 14:23, and involuntary hardships like hunger and thirst [11].
one commentary tradition by Keil and Delitzsch on Isaiah 58 criticizes the perversion of fasting when it becomes a self-righteous act, done for personal gain or reward rather than genuine worship and spiritual absorption [9]. They argue that such a "work-holy delusion" conceals self-righteousness and unrighteousness, failing to be a fast that God finds pleasing [9].
Overall, fasting is presented as a discipline that, when practiced with the right intention, fosters humility, repentance, and a deeper focus on God and the needs of others. It is a means of self-deprivation intended to redirect attention from worldly concerns to spiritual ones, promoting sensitivity to God's will and a greater awareness of social justice [4, 5, 7].
Sources
- Psalms “My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat. -- Psalms 109:24”
- Matthew “so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. -- Matthew 6:18”
- Psalms “Psalms 69:10 (LITV) — When I humbled my soul with fasting, it also was to my reproach;”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 58:6: 58:6-7 True fasting creates an awareness of injustice and oppression and prompts the practitioner to reach out to help the needy in their struggles (see 42:7; Matt 25:35-36; Jas 1:27).”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 58:3: 58:3 Fasting should be a time of self-deprivation in order to focus on God and pleasing him (Lev 16:29; see Zech 7:5). However, these people were only interested in pleasing themselves and continuing in their sins.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 9:14: 9:14 fast: Fasting expressed personal humility and repentance (2 Sam 12:16-23; Dan 9:3). It called attention to the national need for repentance (Lev 16:29-31; Neh 9:1) and probably sought to hasten the arrival of the Messiah through purification. The fact that Jesus and his disciples did not fast (Matt 11:18-19) subtly proclaimed that the Messiah had already arrived (see also 6:16).”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 58:13: 58:13 Like the practice of fasting, the Sabbath was intended to be an expression of self-denial and worship. It consists of delighting in the Lord, trusting him to provide for one’s needs while abstaining from work, and living in obedience to his will.”
- Esther (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Esther 4:16: Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days - What a strange thing, that still we hear nothing of prayer, nor of God! What is the ground on which we can account for this total silence? I know it not. She could not suppose there was any charm in fasting, sackcloth garments, and lying on the ground. If these were not done to turn away the displeasure of God, which seemed now to have unchained their enemies against them, what were they done for? If I perish, I perish - If I lose my life in this attempt to save my people, I shall lose it cheerfully. I see it is”
- Isaiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Isaiah 58:5: Whilst the people on the fast-day are carrying on their worldly, selfish, everyday business, the fasting is perverted from a means of divine worship and absorption in the spiritual character of the day to the most thoroughly selfish purposes: it is supposed to be of some worth and to merit some reward. This work-holy delusion, behind which self-righteousness and unrighteousness were concealed, is met thus by Jehovah through His prophet: "Can such things as these pass for a fast that I have pleasure in, as a day for a man to afflict his soul? To bow down his hea”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:2: mourning--that is afflicting myself by fasting from "pleasant bread, flesh and wine" (Dan 10:3), as a sign of sorrow, not for its own sake. Compare Mat 9:14, "fast," answering to "mourn" (Dan 10:15). Compare Co1 8:8; Ti1 4:3, which prove that "fasting" is not an indispensable Christian obligation; but merely an outward expression of sorrow, and separation from ordinary worldly enjoyments, in order to give one's self to prayer (Act 13:2). Daniel's mourning was probably for his countrymen, who met with many obstructions to their building of the temple, f”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:27: fastings--voluntary, in order to kindle devotions (Act 13:2-3; Act 14:23; Co1 9:27); for they are distinguished from "hunger and thirst," which were involuntary [GROTIUS]. However, see on Co2 6:5. The context refers solely to hardships, not to self-imposed devotional mortification. "Hunger and thirst" are not synonymous with "foodlessness" (as the Greek of "fasting" means), but are its consequences. cold . . . nakedness--"cold" resulting from "nakedness," or insufficient clothing, as the Greek often means: as "hunger and thirst" result from "”